Ancient artists found inspiration in ivory itself
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Around 18,000 years ago in northern Ukraine, artists crafted female figurines from mammoth ivory, and researchers now believe the decorations on these figures weren’t simply invented but were inspired by the ivory’s natural patterns.
Archaeologists from the University of Stavanger and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine examined 18 figurines discovered in Mizyn, a site known for its mammoth bone structures. They used digital tools to create detailed 3D models and study the tool marks on the ivory.
The team found that the figurines’ engravings, zigzags and meanders, often mirrored the Schreger pattern and Owen’s lines naturally present within the mammoth tusks. Schreger pattern appears as cross-hatchings when an ivory tusk is broken, while Owen’s lines are concentric growth rings. The artists strategically placed these designs to highlight the natural patterns in the ivory itself, demonstrating an active relationship with the material.
This research challenges previous ideas about the development of ancient art, suggesting it didn't progress in a simple linear fashion. The digital preservation of these artifacts is especially important given the ongoing war in Ukraine and the threat to its cultural heritage. Researchers plan to continue using digital methods to better understand artistic expression in Europe during this period.
